April 2015

April 2015
January 2012 - 1
CONTENTS
Welcome Letter
4
Monthly Free Pattern
5
Designer In The Spotlight
6
Rowan Day Out
8
Rowan Spring Crochet Along
10
Rowan Roadshow - Italy
11
Knit Along Winners
12
New Arena Travel Crochet Holiday
20
2 - April 2015
Mimosa
by Marie Wallin
using Creative Linen
Simple Shapes Creative
Linen
April 2015 - 3
Welcome to the April
newsletter!
Spring is in the air in Holmfirth and we are busy crocheting this month with our first
ever crochet along with Lisa Richardson. Don’t forget to keep us updated with your
progress on our Facebook and Ravelry pages!
This month’s edition features the well-deserved winners of our Kaffe Fassett knit along
competition which closed a few months ago, reviews the first Rowan Day Out and
brings details of our recent Rowan Roadshow events in Italy.
We also have a treat of a free pattern for you this month – a stunning mens garment
in Cotton Glacé and Silkystones, designed by Lisa Richardson.
We hope you enjoy!
The Rowan team
Front Cover:
Amandier
by Martin Storey
Summerlite 4ply
Click on the
where it appears for a link to
further information
Keep in touch with us on
social media…
4 - April 2014
symbol
EXCLUSIVE
Montalcino
by Lisa Richardson
Cotton Glacé & Silkystones
DOWNLOAD
For this and hundreds of
FREE patterns exclusive to
members,
click the button below:
April 2015 - 5
Designer in the Spotlight…
Lisa Richardson
Popular knitwear designer Lisa Richardson is a name instantly
associated with the Rowan pattern house. Lisa joined Rowan in
2003, and, after years of turning her hand to many different roles
and tasks as part of the design process, is now a celebrated and
well established designer in her own right.
Inspired by shape and texture, Lisa’s designs showcase interesting stitch details,
unique garment structure and stylish techniques with a classically understated, yet
innovative brilliance which is reflected in the global status she now commands.
In addition to Lisa’s designer role, she also manages the pattern editing process and
mentors newer members of the design team, whilst managing to squeeze in time to
enjoy running, climbing, biking, swimming, cooking, dancing and reading.
Lisa admits to leading a very busy day-to-day existence, but cites her biggest drive as
helping people create something that they will cherish for years to come, demonstrating
why she is so integral to the Rowan design process.
Why not visit our Facebook page or our Ravelry group Rowan Yarns and tell us which
of Lisa’s designs you most want on your needles? Two spot prizes are up for the taking
– win the yarn to knit your chosen design!
6 - April 2015
Nicci
by Lisa Richardson
using Panama
Knitting & Crochet
Magazine 57
Elektra
Chai
by Lisa Richardson
using Tetra Cotton
Tetra Cotton
by Lisa Richardson
using Original Denim
Knitting & Crochet
Magazine 57
April 2015 - 7
Rowan Day Out
by Katy Bevan
I had great fun on our first Rowan Day
Out. We took a trip to the Clothworkers’
Centre, the V&A archive for textiles and
fashion in Kensington. It’s always good
to go with a group of interested and
curious knitters – or PLUs (that’s ‘people
like us’). And what an interesting group
of people. There were Rowan fans from
the US and Ireland, from Newcastle and
North London. Among them were a paper
conservator, Rowan Designer Sarah
Hatton and a lady whose grandmother
had been milliner to the Queen Mother.
We didn’t see any of the Queen Mother’s
hats, but we did see a fabulous Norman
Hartnell dress that had been worn by her
daughter, the present Queen.
Suzanne Smith, Manager of the
Clothworkers’ Centre, showed us some
of the amazing textiles that the V&A
store there. Alongside some astonishing
knitting, we saw ball gowns and hats,
sample books and carpets. You can
search the V&A archive online to
see images of some of the things we
examined.
We looked at some iconic knits that were
brought out of storage for our delectation
and delight, as well as being allowed to
take a peek into some of the drawers
of glorious hats, shoes and, of course,
knitting.
We had a close look at a very early Coptic
sock worked in nalbinding or single8 - April 2015
needle knitting, an enormous knitted
petticoat that is three metres wide, Elsa
Schiaparelli’s iconic Cravat jumper and
an early Kaffe Fassett evening coat.
My favourite was a knitted jacket from
Italy, hand-knitted in silk and silver-gilt
wrapped silk and lined with linen way
back in 1630. The coral and green colours
are now faded and muted and create
a beautiful palette. The basket stitch
border makes it look quite contemporary.
We also looked at a Zandra Rhodes
dress from 1974 with a print inspired by
knitting. Dame Zandra Rhodes is also a
designer for FreeSpirit fabrics, the latest
design is Lace Mountain inspired by a
trip to Ayers Rock in Australia.
And that wasn’t the half of it. Having
gathered our coats and bags we made
the short walk round the corner to the
Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at
Olympia. Much like its big sister in the
autumn at Alexandra Palace, the K&S
Show was full of inspirational makers,
exhibitions and stalls. We enjoyed
VIP tickets including a rest area and
somewhere to leave all our things
while we looked around. The Fashion
and Textiles Museum had a display to
preview some of their upcoming season
including some knitted swimming
costumes from RIVIERA STYLE: Resort
& Swimwear since 1900 (22 May – 29
August 2015) and intriguing dresses
from ART TEXTILES: Marian Clayden A
Dyer’s Journey – a UK designer better
known in the US – coming in September
2015. The FTM’s knitting exhibition was
marvellous and the following shows
promise good things too. It’s a great
place to check out designers old and
new and they have a good range of
classes and talks too.
Coming away my feet were sore, but
I was full of ideas for experimenting
not just with knitting but also beading,
embroidery and weaving.
Now we just have to decide where we
are going to go next. Any ideas?
Clothworkers’ Centre - find out more
Access to the collection is open to the
public by appointment. There is also an
archive library downstairs where you can
browse through knitting patterns and
designer archives, by appointment only.
You can look at all the things we saw and
more on the V&A archive online:
V&A ARCHIVE
The book of the V&A knitting collection
beautifully illustrated and well worth a
look. Knitting: Fashion, Industry, Craft is
written by Sandy Black and published by
V&A Publishing.
April 2015 - 9
R O W A N Spring Crochet Along
with Lisa Richardson
Spring is here and we are celebrating our new Summerlite 4ply cotton yarn with
a fabulous crochet along with the talented Lisa Richardson. This week sees the
second pattern release stage – so don’t miss out on the fun and make sure you
have your hooks out and at the ready!
Click below for further information or here to join our Zeemap on our Ravelry page,
we already have participants in places such as Greece, Hawaii, Canada, Florida,
Germany, the UK and more!
Join in to see if anyone from your neck of the woods is taking part.
ZEEMAP
10 - April 2015
ROWAN ROADSHOW - ITALY
The Rowan Roadshow is an event with two dates in two different areas: 8th March
in Verona and 15th March in Rome.
The Rowan event involved selected retailers from all over Italy and was born from
the desire to promote not only the quality of the yarn, beloved by knitters, but also
to tell the world about Rowan.
The new Autumn/Winter 2015-16 collection (set to launch in July this year) was
presented through pictures, videos, magazines, garments, showing off Rowan’s
greatest qualities.
At the end of the presentation, the retailers had the opportunity to order the new
yarns and collections for their stores.
April 2015 - 11
Knit Along Winners!
In January, we held a fantastic competition to mark the end of our Kaffe Fassett
Knit Along. We asked entrants to send us pictures of their finished creations
according to three categories; best prop, best location and best adaptation of
project. We were delighted with the response we got, as so many knitters made
such a wonderful job of the projects included in the KAL. We caught up with the
winners in each category to find out a bit more about them, and what inspired
their winning entry.
Best Location of a photographed finished project
Jane McKeag (Janeknits)
Knitting has always been part of my
life. My grandmother constantly knitted
and crocheted, with each of her 40
grandchildren and numerous great
grandchildren receiving a blanket and
hat made with loving hands. My mother
knitted socks for the troops during World
War II and continued to knit them (argyles,
no less) for my father on car trips. On
one such trip, when I was about 7 years
old, I learned to knit on tiny double point
needles.
My knitting really took off in college. I
attended an elite women’s college where
knitting during class was a tradition since
the late 1800’s. In fact, graduates of Smith
College often recognise one another by
their (inappropriate) knitting in business
settings. I followed that pattern by knitting
12 - April 2015
through law school, during law partnership
meetings, and during judicial education
seminars (even during computer training).
Because I love colour and knitting
challenges, I gravitate towards stranded
knitting and colourwork. These interests
also led me to Kaffe Fassett’s designs for
knitting (and also quilting). My favourite
is the first sweater of his I knitted, the
Circus Stars child’s sweater. I made it for
my daughter about 30 years ago and my
granddaughter has since worn it as well.
As I have made many of his sweaters, I
couldn’t resist the KAL he designed.
This project was great fun, and I did
dare to change his colours somewhat to
reflect the desert pastels where I now
live. I have made a hand appliqued quilt
for each of my daughters and am in the
process of knitting unique blankets for
each of them as well. Little did I suspect
that this blanket would be a prize winner,
my first ever. Now I may have to keep it
for myself as a wonderful remembrance
of this event.
Gillian Wilkinson
I have knitted ever since I was a child,
started knitting with two sticks and some
old wool. I was born and bought up in
Nairobi, Kenya and my mother worked
so I had an ayah (nanny if you like), who
looked after me during the day and she
taught me to knit with these sticks, the
right hand one had a ‘bobble’ of wood on
it which was uncomfortable so I adapted
the way I held the needle and to this day
I cannot hold the needle in any other way,
it looks quite odd, but it gets the job done!
I knitted for my boys when they were
little and as they got older I made knitted
garments for the action men, and the odd
thing for myself. Then I had a big gap of
many years when I did not knit at all, I
started doing it again about five years ago
and since I have been retired (three years
now), I always have something on the go.
The knit-along offer came at a time when
I had just finished knitting a poncho in
Kidsilk Haze for my daughter-in-law, and I
had nothing else planned and so it seemed
like a good chance to do something
different and take me up to Christmas. A
chance too to do a Kaffe Fassett design.
We are currently building an extension on
our bungalow and a new brightly coloured
cushion to go in the conservatory seemed
the perfect project.
I found the process, on the whole, very
easy. The instructions and videos were
a great help and I enjoyed knitting the
squares every two weeks or so, blocking
them and seeing it grow. The knitting was
the most enjoyable part and the sewing
up the worst, matching all those lines, and
despite my best efforts not every square
April 2015 - 13
was as perfect as it should have been!
My only complaint was that the whole
thing was aimed at those who were doing
the throw not at those doing the cushions,
though we did get to see a picture of the
finished cushions when we were being
shown how to sew up the squares.
I was amazed and absolutely delighted
to win a prize. My cousin persuaded
me to enter the picture of the cushion
because I had finished it whilst she was
still struggling to finish her throw - which
is utterly beautiful and probably far more
deserving of a prize than mine. I love almost everything that Kaffe
produces. His colour combinations are
wonderful, and to date I have never had
the confidence to attempt anything by
him, the cushion is the first time I have
ever attempted to do anything that he has
designed. I might try a simple jumper
in the future. however, one with not too
many colours perhaps! One thing of his
I really want to do is one of his tapestry
kits, always loved them, it is on my wish
list.
Nese Akbiyik
As a child, my sister taught me the basic
how-to knit tips. A friend introduced me to
Rowan about ten years ago and that was
the absolute turning point, since knitting
was definitely no longer old-fashioned but
fancy and desirable. It is the perfect hobby
for a cat owner to sit down with a lovely
piece of knitting on the hand and one or
two cats on the lap. The cats have gone,
but the passion for knitting and my love for
Rowan are still unbroken. Fortunately, Kim
Hargreaves, who I really adore, designs
with Rowan yarns. I could go on for hours.
Knitting takes a large part of my life and
hopefully I will never have to miss it.
When I got the email announcing the Kaffe
Fassett KAL, I spontaneously decided to
take part and eagerly ordered yarn for
the afghan and both cushions. It’s a lot of
work but the results are definitely worth
any stitch you knit and all the hours and
months you spend on it. The point is, that
a pattern of a genius like Kaffe Fassett
is the insurance to have a desirable
accessory for one’s home that will last a
lifetime.
All in all, the knit along process was
continuous work with no space for other
knitting. When deciding to assemble the
squares my own way, it pushed me to place
my entry just in time. I made a symmetric
quilt version of the afghan regarding
colour groups of Rosy, Raspberry and, of
course, the brown tones in my case. I’m
pleased to have put my personal twist on
this project.
What made this KAL so special for me was
the power of the community I could be part
14 - April 2015
of on Ravelry. Watching the process of
my co-knitters with all the other beautiful
colour schemes made every single project
special and worthy of winning. So, when
the notification came, I was absolutely
overwhelmed and speechless. At that
point it wasn’t announced officially and
I felt like a secret keeper about to burst
with pride and joy.
I love my afghan very much but the Kaffe
design I really love is my Earth Stripe
Stole. Especially when travelling, my stole
is my piece of home to take with me. This
speaks also for the quality, softness and
uniqueness of Kidsilk Haze.
Best prop used in a photograph
Diane Uczekaj
I’ve been knitting for about 12 years. I
took beginner classes from an excellent
teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma called Susan
Mickey, who, rather than prescribe a
pattern for me to follow, encouraged
me to select different stitch patterns
from a calendar, making sure the stitch
mathematics were correct, to make a
sampler scarf. It is still my favourite scarf,
and it was from her that I was given a
somewhat fearless approach to knitting.
Concurrently with my very first beginner
classes, my mother-in-law was visiting for
two weeks. As an avid and skilled knitter,
she patiently sat alongside me and helped
me with dropped and miscounted stitches,
and taught me how to knit “continental”
style (she is Hungarian). Between these
two women, my knitting journey was
launched.
I joined the knit along for a couple of
reasons. I had toyed with afghan ideas
previous to the KAL, but never quite
committed – it seemed like “too much.”
When I saw the knit along, and the size
of the afghan, I told myself I could commit
to it, it seemed more manageable, yet
would keep me on track by releasing
new colourways each week. Also, I
really admire Kaffe Fassett’s colourwork,
and thought that with guidance I could
replicate a pattern of his.
I loved the process, although some weeks
I felt very stressed (self-induced!) to
complete the requisite number of squares,
especially through the holiday season.
There were several aspects to the KAL that
were particularly enjoyable. The YouTube
tutorials were brilliant. I got so much help
from them. Also, the Ravelry community
was warm, kind and incredibly helpful,
providing color-coded charts and graphic
organizers. It really sped the process for
me, and everyone cheered each other on
with a lot of encouragement. Finally, I so
much enjoyed seeing everyone’s afghans
April 2015 - 15
come together. This KAL helped me get
to know and use the Ravelry website on a
deeper level, and I check in there nearly
every day now. I also check the Rowan
website much more frequently. The KAL
also gave me more confidence to try
new, and even alternate, techniques. I
had avoided i-cord, and on this afghan I
made an attached i-cord border! It was a
breakthrough moment for me!
I was absolutely thrilled to win Best Prop,
as I had put most of my outdoor activities
on hold, including working the horses, for
most of the winter. Not so terribly unusual,
but we all got a bit of cabin fever! I’m so
proud of Dutch and his pointed, modelpose toe-out, with his beautiful palomino
coloring showed off the afghan colours to
perfection. He’s such a steady guy, the
blanket draping and photographing didn’t
faze him in the least!
My favourite Kaffe design is the Pineapple
Blanket, knitted with Rowan Colourscape
Chunky yarn, from “Knitting With The
Color Guys,” because it incorporates
such gorgeous yarns and echoes his
incredible quilt designs. I am not yet
confident enough to tackle this pattern
without some support, but maybe one day
it will be a KAL!!
Karen Eastbourne
I have been knitting for over forty
years. (BTW, I did not enjoy doing the
math for that answer!)
Having recently moved from Massachusetts
to Hawaii, I had joined the knitting
group at my LYS.
I thought the
afghan would give me a great project
to carry to the store to work on. I very much enjoyed working on the
project. I have been a Kaffe fan (primarily
in knitting and quilting) and love his sense
of colour and geometry in his designs. I
completed each new colorway in about
four days, and interspersed working on
the KAL with other projects including an
on-going wedding shawl. My favourite part of the project was
seeing the squares assembled and then
choosing a border for it with a mitered
corner square that I designed to go with
it. (Border design by Nicky Epstein)
I was excited, of course! And very
happy when I received the surprise prize
package. I am hoping to design a sweater
to use the Aubergine Summerlite yarn (the
colour of my KAL border). I will definitely
16 - April 2015
post to the Rowan FB page as the design
progresses!
My favourite Kaffe design is Afghan
sweater from “Kaffe’s Classics”. The
asymmetry of the squares creates
movement and I can see the sweater
being made in the colourway shown, or
pastels, or neutrals, or blues.... I have loved working with the yarn and
am currently making a fairisle cushion
cover out of the leftovers! I see lots more
Rowan in my future!
Helle Hartmann
I have been a knitter since I was about
6-7 years old. My grandmother taught
me. Later, I started to sew clothes - and in
the last 15 years I also have been doing
patchwork and embroidering. 9 years
ago something new had to happen. After
more than 20 years working in a hospital
laboratory - I quit - and got a job in a sewing/
knitting shop in my home town. Now I
have my hobby as my job - lucky me... I had never joined in a knit along before and this will NOT be the last time - it was
very funny. I have been a part of a “BOM”(one block of a project every month in a
year) in patchwork - it was very interesting
not to know how it would end, it’s very
exciting..
The process of the knit along was
fascinating, because the choice of the
colours was decided by somebody else
- you should not think - just do what the
pattern says...In the beginning -after the
3 first weeks -I was a little disappointed- I
thought there might be more than stripes
to come from Mr. Kaffe Fassett. But I
loved to knit the squares- I loved the way
the colours came in new orders - week
after week. It was also fun to sit and knit
- and think - how to make a photo for the
competition. Good idea - with a deadline
- the “sewing together-project” became
much easier. I was at work - it was lunch
time, when an email arrived. I was one of
the winners in the knit along competition I did a little dance - very, very happy...
I am a big fan of many of the Rowan
designers. Marie Wallin, Martin Storey,
Kim Hargreaves, Vibe Ulrik (I am proud as
she is also Danish..) and of course Kaffe
Fassett - and Rowan yarns are my
absolute favourite. Many years ago, I saw
a colourful cardigan in a magazine - just a
photo - no pattern. I made my own pattern
of the photo - and knitted the cardigan.
Years later, I found out that it was Kaffe
Fassett who had made the cardigan.
His” Foolish Virgins Scarf” is one of my
favourites - I have made a sweater with
inspiration from the scarf.
Last year, I embroidered one of
his cushions - Persian Garden. Lovely...
I absolutely love my Afghan - thank you
so much - I am looking forward to the next
April 2015 - 17
knit along and crochet along.
Best adaptation of a project
Hanneke Bezem
My favourite Kaffe design is the Cardigan
of Chinese Lanterns, in Rowan 19, such
beautiful colours!
Majorie Cotton
I have been a knitter since I was 5 years
old, I learned it from my mother.
The things that made me decide to join
the KAL were:
- that the designer is Kaffe Fassett
- I have wanted to make a blanket for a
long time
- I have fallen in love with the Rowan Pure
Worsted (quality and colours)
The first day that the first clue came, I was
really excited! Love the structure, etc. But
after the second clue, I was a little bit disappointed that I had to knit 64 times the
same clue. But, because the designer is
Kaffe Fassett, I thought, the result really
must be fantastic. So that was why I kept
on going. And I didn’t want to “run away”,
because I was afraid, and in that case, I
wouldn’t finish the blanket.
I couldn’t believe I had won, I was really
excited and couldn’t wait to tell everybody.
18 - April 2015
I was taught to knit at primary school so
have been knitting for over fifty years.
I love Kaffe Fassett’s work, I love Rowan
wool and I love a good mystery ... so it was
a no-brainer to join in the knit along for me!
I found the process very simple. I had
done the Martin Storey mystery blanket
knit along last year so was used to
downloading the patterns from the
Rowan website and watching the relevant
Youtube videos.
The most fun, apart from playing with the
finished squares and re-arranging them
of course, was probably the camaraderie
from fellow members of the Ravelry knit
along group.
When I found out I had won, it’s hard to
put this into words, but I was over the
moon and very excited!
For sentimental reasons, my favourite
design would have to be Kaffe’s “The
Cones waistcoat” because my late mother
knitted it for me back in 1994. Next
favourite would be the Earth Stripe Wrap
which I am so looking forward to knitting!
I have managed to collect all the original
kidsilk colours, including the discontinued
ones. For me it is all about colour and the
Earth Stripe Wrap is such a simple, easy
to knit design but Kaffe’s choice of colours
make it so very special.
I should add that I also love Kaffe’s
tapestry and quilt designs – and I am
really looking forward to the new Kaffe
Fassett quilt exhibition at the York Quilt
Museum which starts on 15th May and
where I volunteer!
Ellen De Baare
much, I also crochet, but I prefer knitting.
I have never joined a knit along before, so
I did check what it was all about, and then
I joined the knit along.
To buy the various colours of wool was
fun, the yarn was not delivered together,
but in different batches as it was sold out
at one time, so I started a week later,
but that was no problem. I started on the
4th of October and finished on the 4th of
January, not entirely in time, but I had a
few little projects to finish at the same
time; a baby jacket for the new born baby
of my neighbour.
I was very surprised and happy to win, I
never thought I would win a prize with my
blanket, but I think it was a nice idea to
make a contest out of it.
Kaffe has several designs I like very much,
he has designed another blanket, which is
on my to-do list and I also love his designs
for quilting and his quilting fabrics.
I loved my prize of the Kaffe Fassett
autobiography and the Rowan magazine
and some Summerlite 4ply cotton.
I have been knitting for a very long time,
more than 25 years and I still enjoy it very
April 2015 - 19
New Arena Travel Crochet Holiday
Join Crochet expert Nicki Trench for Arena Travel’s first ever dedicated crochet holiday
to the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence.
Itinerary
DAY 1:
Today, you will board your flight from London Heathrow to Pisa. Upon arrival you will
transfer from Pisa to Florence and check-in to the Grand Hotel Baglioni, your home for
the next 4 nights.
The afternoon is at leisure, but you may wish to start your exploration of the city and
perhaps visit the world famous Uffizi Museum.
DAY 2:
Enjoy a guided walking sightseeing tour and this will be followed by
your first crochet workshop with Nicki in the comfort of your hotel.
DAY 3:
Today will be a whole day dedicated to crochet classes led by Nicki in your
hotel. These will be split into two classes with a break for independent lunch.
DAY 4:
Join Nicki for your last crochet class in the hotel and in the afternoon, you will head out
of Florence to visit The Prato Textile Museum.
DAY 5:
After breakfast we will drive back to Pisa, giving you time to see the old entrance gate
of Porta Santa Maria, Piazza dei Miracoli with its marble architecture and neat grass
lawns, the Cathedral, and have time to visit the world famous Leaning Tower!
MORE INFO
20 - April 2015
Stockists
To find your local stockist view our
store locator at www.knitrowan.com by
clicking the button below
STORE
LOCATOR
Workshops
To view a full list of workshop dates
visit www.knitrowan.com by clicking the
button below
WORKSHOPS
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forbidden. No part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic,
electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright
owners having been given in writing.
The designs in this publication are copyrighted and must not be knitted for re-sale. Reproduction of this publication is protected by copyright and is
sold on the condition that it is used for non commercial purposes. Yarn quantities are approximate as they are based on average requirements. Colour
reproduction is as close as printing will allow.
First published in Great Britain 2015 by Coats Crafts UK LTD Green Lane Mill, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, HD9 2DX
E-mail: mail@knitrowan.com Web: www.knitrowan.com © Copyright Rowan 2015
April 2015 - 21
Violetta
by Vibe Ulrik
using Kidsilk Haze &
Fine Lace
Knitting & Crochet
Magazine 57